Sec Form 4 Filing - KAPLAN JEROME M @ MEREDITH CORP - 2003-12-01

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: November 30, 2011 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person KAPLAN JEROME M 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol MEREDITH CORP [ MDP] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Exec. V.P.-Publishing Group (Last) (First) (Middle) 1716 LOCUST STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 12/01/2003 (Street) DES MOINES, IA50309-3023 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock (Restricted) ($1 par value) ( 1 ) 12/01/2003 F 4,800 D $ 0 0 D Class B Common Stock ($1 par value) ( 2 ) 28 D Class B Common Stock ($1 par value) ( 3 ) 464 I by Managed Account Common Stock ($1 par value) ( 2 ) 15,460 D Common Stock ($1 par value) ( 3 ) 3,395 I by Managed Account

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Unde rlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Restricted stock units $ 0 12/01/2003 A 4,800 12/01/2004 08/08/1988 Common Stock ($1 par value) ( 4 ) 4,800 $ 0 4,800 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 5 ) $ 28.0625 08/09/2008 08/08/2010 Common Stock ($1 par value) 12,000 12,000 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 6 ) $ 28.0625 08/09/2001 08/09/2010 Common Stock ($1 par value) 17,700 17,700 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 6 ) $ 28.9062 03/03/2003 03/03/2010 Common Stock ($1 par value) 7,500 7,500 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 7 ) $ 29.875 08/12/2000 08/12/2007 Common Stock ($1 par value) 12,000 12,000 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 6 ) $ 29.875 08/13/1998 08/13/2007 Common Stock ($1 par value) 22,800 22,800 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 5 ) $ 30.75 08/09/2008 11/12/2010 Common Stock ($1 par value) 8,000 8,000 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 6 ) $ 30.75 11/13/2001 11/13/2010 Common Stock ($1 par value) 12,300 12,300 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 6 ) $ 33.1562 08/11/2000 08/11/2009 Common Stock ($1 par value) 17,700 17,700 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 6 ) $ 34.8 08/08/2002 08/08/2011 Common Stock ($1 par value) 36,000 36,000 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 6 ) $ 39.05 08/13/2003 08/13/2012 Common Stock ($1 par value) 40,000 40,000 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 6 ) $ 41.6875 08/12/1999 08/12/2008 Common Stock ($1 par value) 17,700 17,700 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) ( 8 ) $ 46.165 08/12/2006 08/12/2013 Common Stock ($1 par value) 20,000 20,000 D Stock equivalent units $ 0 08/08/1988 08/08/1988 Common Stock ($1 par value) ( 9 ) 4,506 4,506 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other KAPLAN JEROME M 1716 LOCUST STREET DES MOINES, IA50309-3023 Exec. V.P.-Publishing Group Signatures By: Teresa T. Rinker, Sr. Legal Assistant For: Jerome M. Kaplan 12/01/2003 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Shares were awarded pursuant to the 1996 Meredith Corporation Stock Incentive Plan. The shares are subject to forfeiture and are nontransferable until five years after the date of grant. ( 2 )Shares held by the reporting person in street name. ( 3 )Shares attributed to the reporting person's Meredith Corporation Savings and Investment Plan account. Quarterly dividends on these shares are paid in the form of additional Common Stock, $1 par value. ( 4 )Restricted stock units issued at fair market value (the average of the high and low selling prices of Meredith Common Stock on the issue date), pursuant to Meredith Corp's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan, which will be converted to Common Stock ($1 par value) on a one-for-one basis in three equal annual installments, commencing on the first anniversary of the reporting person's retirement from Meredith Corp. employment. ( 5 )This option was granted pursuant to the '96 Meredith Corp. Stock Incentive Plan and will become exercisable in full August 9, 2008. Graduated percentages of the option, however, will become exercisable August 13, 2003, if specified EPS growth targets set forth in Exhibit A to the Nonqualified Stock Option Award agreement are met. ( 6 )This option was granted pursuant to the '96 Meredith Corp. Stock Incentive Plan and becomes exercisable in three equal annual installments, commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant. ( 7 )This option was granted pursuant to the '96 Meredith Corp. Stock Incentive Plan and will become exercisable in full February 12, 2007. Graduated percentages of the option, however, will become exercisable August 12, 2000, if specified EPS growth targets set forth in Exhibit A to the Nonqualified Stock Option Award agreement are met. ( 8 )This option was granted pursuant to the '96 Meredith Corp. Stock Incentive Plan and becomes exercisable in its entirety on the third anniversary of the date of grant. ( 9 )Stock equivalents issued at fair market value (the average of the high and low selling price of Meredith Common Stock on the issue date), pursuant to Meredith Corp.'s deferred compensation plan which will be converted to Common Stock ($1 par value) on a one-for-one basis upon the reporting person's retirement from or termination of Meredith Corp. employment. Quarterly dividends are accrued in the form of additional stock equivalents. Data in this footnote would normally appear in the Title, Exercisable Date, and Price columns.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.